Buffy sat where she never dreamed herself to be before. She was in a
meeting of the Brotherhood, enemies of Big Brother. It was
generally understood that all those who joined signed a contract
of suicide that resulted in one's untimely death. But she was here,
and so were others. So she was not the only fool Other fools she
once would've killed, were now her allies.
To her left was Alexander, who was talking to an older man, with gray
hair and glasses. He was dressed in a tweed suit and talked with a
British accent; Buffy wondered if he was from Eurasia, a war enemy of
Big Brother at some time. To her left sat a willowy red head dressed
in a formal business suit for women, not different to those who worked
in the Inner and Outer Parties. Her eyes were puffy, obviously from
crying. Buffy wondered what had gone wrong for the woman. Across from
her sat a tall, dark man dressed in black sitting next to a pretty
brunette, both eyeing Buffy suspiciously.
If Buffy had ever seen these people before, she didn't recognize them.
Despite the fact that they were "vampires," they all looked relatively
normal. She wouldn't think twice about them being against the Party.
This fact made her both appreciate and fear the competency of the
Thought Police. She wondered which one was Goldstein- her bet was on
the man in the tweed suit. Buffy had to force back the conditioned
hatred that arose within herself; she was on their side now.
Suddenly, the British man stood up and cleared his throat. All at
once, he had everyone's undivided attention, even the crying red-
head.
"I suppose introductions are to be made. Everyone, this is Buffy,
the Slayer." The introduction was meaningless, Buffy could tell they
already knew who she was. She was greeted with looks of suspicion,
hatred, and, with Alexander, at least, kindness. "Buffy, this is
Willow Rosenburg, Liam Angelus, Cordelia Chase, I am Rupert Giles,
and you already know Alexander Harris. We are the people you will
betray, if ever caught." Rupert sighed and sat down, leaving Buffy
taken back by his abruptness.
"Wait, I don't understand- why would I betray you?" Buffy knew she
was new to the whole Brotherhood thing, but wasn't this going a bit
far? They could've at least pretended to show a little bit of faith.
"Once you're sit to the Ministry of Love, they'll do all sorts of
torture methods to get you to confess. And eventually, you will
confess. Everyone does. Even if you are innocent," Liam told her
darkly, a flash of pain and anger flickered across his eyes. Buffy
eyed him, he seemed like he had a secret. But, then again, they
all did, didn't they?
"That's why you only see five of us. You can only give our five names,
rather than the entire mission. The Brotherhood is bigger than this,
believe me." Alexander smiled at her. He remembered his first
meeting- it was the scariest and most clarifying moment of his life.
Anyone involved with the Brotherhood signed their passport to the
Minilove. But if it could help the future, so be it.
"What about Goldstein?" Buffy couldn't help but ask about the man she
hated, yet admired at the same time. Five sets of eyes searched each
other, trying to find the correct thing to say. Yet there is no
correct way of saying something about something they knew absolutely
nothing about.
"We've never actually met him. Giles was recruited a while ago by
someone whose name he refuses to say, and he recruited us. Goldstein
corresponds with us occasionally by mail, giving us names or
assignments for us to accomplish. But I doubt anyone knows where he
is at. He may not even exist for all we know, but he's the symbol
of the Brotherhood." Alexander told her all that he knew, which,
fortunately was not much. Getting caught was one thing, but causing
his friends,
and especially Goldstein to get caught- it would be the end of the
Brotherhood. He would rather die than to have that happen.
"So what's your plan?" Buffy asked tentatively. Behind every
revolution, there was a plan. Were they going to blow up the Minilove?
Kill people? Killing was the one thing that she could do, and could
do well. Maybe that is why she was recruited, simply to kill.
"Specific plans cannot be divulged, especially to you," Cordelia glared
at her as she crossed her arms and glanced at Liam.
"Especially since we do not know the plans. We are not revolutionists,
we are evolutionists. Change in society cannot happen in a short
period of time, especially if people do not want the change. Other
than people like us, the majority of the people are happy the way
things are. If we started a revolution, things would go back exactly
the same as now. So instead, we believe that society can evolve, into
something better for our future. We try to spread the word, to
influence people to our side, like you. And in that way, and only
that way, can we change things. You cannot force people into freedom,"
Rupert stated.
Alexander looked at his watch and stood up. "I believe that we've
covered everything that can be covered. Mind if we adjourn? I have
to go to work," he snorted at he absurdity of his comment. "See
everyone next week?" The group nodded their agreement, and Alexander
walked steadily out of the room as the clock struck 12.
Buffy also arose. "I guess I should go too." She hardly felt comfortable
in there without Alexander, for now there was nobody that seemed to
like or trust her. Without another word, she walked briskly out the
door, and was about to hit the stairs when a female voice stopped
her.
"Wait." Buffy turned and saw Cordelia walking toward her. Buffy
stopped and waited for her to reach her. Cordelia approached Buffy, and
stared boldly into her eyes. "Just so you know, I don't trust you.
I don't like you either. Alexander thinks he can just give you
some sob story about what the world used to be like, and you'll
automatically change. I don't believe it for a second. People don't
just change their way of life overnight. People don't just change
their views on society because of one stupid, meaningless walk.
If you're serious about this, then fine, prove me wrong. But if
you're here as a spy, or whatever the hell it is that you're doing,
know this: we're not stupid- you're not one of us. We're watching
you, and I don't give a damn if you are the Slayer- if I even think
you'll betray us, betray my friends, I'll kill you. If I see for a
second that you're the same person that killed Willow's husband
Daniel last night, I'll kill you. I think we're clear." With that,
Cordelia turned with a flounce, and walked back to the room.
Buffy couldn't help but feel impressed. No one has ever said anything
like that to her before, and then turned their back on her. The girl
was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.
meeting of the Brotherhood, enemies of Big Brother. It was
generally understood that all those who joined signed a contract
of suicide that resulted in one's untimely death. But she was here,
and so were others. So she was not the only fool Other fools she
once would've killed, were now her allies.
To her left was Alexander, who was talking to an older man, with gray
hair and glasses. He was dressed in a tweed suit and talked with a
British accent; Buffy wondered if he was from Eurasia, a war enemy of
Big Brother at some time. To her left sat a willowy red head dressed
in a formal business suit for women, not different to those who worked
in the Inner and Outer Parties. Her eyes were puffy, obviously from
crying. Buffy wondered what had gone wrong for the woman. Across from
her sat a tall, dark man dressed in black sitting next to a pretty
brunette, both eyeing Buffy suspiciously.
If Buffy had ever seen these people before, she didn't recognize them.
Despite the fact that they were "vampires," they all looked relatively
normal. She wouldn't think twice about them being against the Party.
This fact made her both appreciate and fear the competency of the
Thought Police. She wondered which one was Goldstein- her bet was on
the man in the tweed suit. Buffy had to force back the conditioned
hatred that arose within herself; she was on their side now.
Suddenly, the British man stood up and cleared his throat. All at
once, he had everyone's undivided attention, even the crying red-
head.
"I suppose introductions are to be made. Everyone, this is Buffy,
the Slayer." The introduction was meaningless, Buffy could tell they
already knew who she was. She was greeted with looks of suspicion,
hatred, and, with Alexander, at least, kindness. "Buffy, this is
Willow Rosenburg, Liam Angelus, Cordelia Chase, I am Rupert Giles,
and you already know Alexander Harris. We are the people you will
betray, if ever caught." Rupert sighed and sat down, leaving Buffy
taken back by his abruptness.
"Wait, I don't understand- why would I betray you?" Buffy knew she
was new to the whole Brotherhood thing, but wasn't this going a bit
far? They could've at least pretended to show a little bit of faith.
"Once you're sit to the Ministry of Love, they'll do all sorts of
torture methods to get you to confess. And eventually, you will
confess. Everyone does. Even if you are innocent," Liam told her
darkly, a flash of pain and anger flickered across his eyes. Buffy
eyed him, he seemed like he had a secret. But, then again, they
all did, didn't they?
"That's why you only see five of us. You can only give our five names,
rather than the entire mission. The Brotherhood is bigger than this,
believe me." Alexander smiled at her. He remembered his first
meeting- it was the scariest and most clarifying moment of his life.
Anyone involved with the Brotherhood signed their passport to the
Minilove. But if it could help the future, so be it.
"What about Goldstein?" Buffy couldn't help but ask about the man she
hated, yet admired at the same time. Five sets of eyes searched each
other, trying to find the correct thing to say. Yet there is no
correct way of saying something about something they knew absolutely
nothing about.
"We've never actually met him. Giles was recruited a while ago by
someone whose name he refuses to say, and he recruited us. Goldstein
corresponds with us occasionally by mail, giving us names or
assignments for us to accomplish. But I doubt anyone knows where he
is at. He may not even exist for all we know, but he's the symbol
of the Brotherhood." Alexander told her all that he knew, which,
fortunately was not much. Getting caught was one thing, but causing
his friends,
and especially Goldstein to get caught- it would be the end of the
Brotherhood. He would rather die than to have that happen.
"So what's your plan?" Buffy asked tentatively. Behind every
revolution, there was a plan. Were they going to blow up the Minilove?
Kill people? Killing was the one thing that she could do, and could
do well. Maybe that is why she was recruited, simply to kill.
"Specific plans cannot be divulged, especially to you," Cordelia glared
at her as she crossed her arms and glanced at Liam.
"Especially since we do not know the plans. We are not revolutionists,
we are evolutionists. Change in society cannot happen in a short
period of time, especially if people do not want the change. Other
than people like us, the majority of the people are happy the way
things are. If we started a revolution, things would go back exactly
the same as now. So instead, we believe that society can evolve, into
something better for our future. We try to spread the word, to
influence people to our side, like you. And in that way, and only
that way, can we change things. You cannot force people into freedom,"
Rupert stated.
Alexander looked at his watch and stood up. "I believe that we've
covered everything that can be covered. Mind if we adjourn? I have
to go to work," he snorted at he absurdity of his comment. "See
everyone next week?" The group nodded their agreement, and Alexander
walked steadily out of the room as the clock struck 12.
Buffy also arose. "I guess I should go too." She hardly felt comfortable
in there without Alexander, for now there was nobody that seemed to
like or trust her. Without another word, she walked briskly out the
door, and was about to hit the stairs when a female voice stopped
her.
"Wait." Buffy turned and saw Cordelia walking toward her. Buffy
stopped and waited for her to reach her. Cordelia approached Buffy, and
stared boldly into her eyes. "Just so you know, I don't trust you.
I don't like you either. Alexander thinks he can just give you
some sob story about what the world used to be like, and you'll
automatically change. I don't believe it for a second. People don't
just change their way of life overnight. People don't just change
their views on society because of one stupid, meaningless walk.
If you're serious about this, then fine, prove me wrong. But if
you're here as a spy, or whatever the hell it is that you're doing,
know this: we're not stupid- you're not one of us. We're watching
you, and I don't give a damn if you are the Slayer- if I even think
you'll betray us, betray my friends, I'll kill you. If I see for a
second that you're the same person that killed Willow's husband
Daniel last night, I'll kill you. I think we're clear." With that,
Cordelia turned with a flounce, and walked back to the room.
Buffy couldn't help but feel impressed. No one has ever said anything
like that to her before, and then turned their back on her. The girl
was either incredibly brave or incredibly stupid.
